Part IV - Living Walls - Borders & Hedges: Yews and Hemlocks: Hi Daniel, welcome to Gardening in Shade! I don't know where

» Marge_Talt - Hi Daniel, welcome to Gardening in Shade! I don't know where

Hi Daniel, welcome to Gardening in Shade!

I don't know where you're gardening, but if you have cold winters it is best not to prune woody plants in fall because pruning generally induces new growth and it doesn't have enough time to harden off before winter.

I've pruned my hemlocks about this time of year, as new growth hardens; in very late winter/early spring before new growth starts and sometimes as late as July when I couldn't get to it before then. So, if you want to head them back now, I should think you can do it.

Do make sure to taper when you prune so that the bottom of the plant is wider than the top. This way light can hit the entire face. If you prune straight up and down or so that the top is wider than the bottom, the plants will tend to die out at the bottom when no light reaches the branches.

Marge

Gardening in
Shade

-- posted by Marge_Talt